MBB: Old Dominion Athletic Conference

[hasanova]

Nova,

Don't forget that Billy Jack started posting as an E&H supporter.  So please don't assoicate him with HSC supporters.  I believe he is just trying to get something started.  I know in the late 90s and early 2000s, there were a lot of problems on this board with HSC-RMC posters talking smack and passing insults to one another.  That is not a time to which I want to see this board revert.  As some have said in the past, perhaps ignoring and not responding to comments such as these is the best course of action.

Hey, Brian.  I don't, but you're right, I should have ignored it.

[odacfan1225]

I don't agree with the sermonizing about "having some class" .....  It seems to me that the post-game in-your-face kind of stuff on this board, while not necessary, has been pretty tame compared to the way that David Carlson and Jeremy Dixon behaved on the court at the end of the game in Fleet Gymnasium in January.  (Then again, the Carlson/Dixon standard for sportsmanship is a low one ... and I'm sure we can do a better on this board.)

The rivalry between these two teams is such that almost every Tiger fan I know would rather see Hampden-Sydney beat Randolph-Macon than anyone else.  When the Tigers came out for the second half tonight, 17 points behind a 20-5 Yellow Jacket team that had finished in a tie for second during the regular season .... well, a lot of teams might be ready to fold under those circumstances, but the Tigers played their hearts out and sent the Yellow Jackets packing, winning the second half by a score of 49-30.  To a Tiger fan, that is about as sweet as it gets!

Tonight wasn't as good as cutting down the nets in Ashland in 2003, but the Tigers' amazing comeback win on "Leap Day '08" will be well-remembered for quite some time.  It was even more fun than the Tigers' blowout win over the Yellow Jackets in Fleet Gymnasium at the end of the 2007 regular season.  Tiger fans are very happy about tonight's huge comeback win ....... and looking forward to another ODAC semifinal game against Virginia Wesleyan.

Algernon, thats my point exactly, I by no means condone what any players including Dixon and Carlson acting that way, BUT for a grown man to come to an online forum and talk crap is rediculous.  I will root for all ODAC teams that make the tourny, but for anyone to come on here and talk crap, and act like a whiney 7 year old is a joke.  While it does not matter to me who wins the VWC vs HSC game, I do think VWC will win and probably win soundly, so I will be very anxious to here good ole Billy Jacks comments on that game!  And the comment about Mike Rhoades ruining the game?  What the hell are you referring to?  Mike Rhoades just like all the other ODAC coaches loves the game and wants his team to win very badly, so unless he has done something that I don't know about then what has he done?  Good luck to the remaining 4 teams.

[rmc6thman]

odacfan,

I was wondering the same thing about Rhoades!  Was there something in particular that he did last night that Billy Jack was referring to?  Perhaps someone there can provide details if so. 

If that is the case, it is out of character.  Rest assured, that coaches don't earn the respect it takes to get voted COY 3 years in a row by "ruining the game."  Coach Rhoades is an exceptional coach and a better person that does not sacrifice integrity to get wins...not that any other coaches do, I certainly can't speak to that. 

As a former member of that rivalry, I can say that there is a lot that goes on in the HSC-RMC rivalry from BOTH schools and teams; and I can't agree more with algernon in that everyone at RMC enjoys beating HSC more than anything.  Congrats to the Tigers on a hard fought game...looks like the Jackets are hanging on to a small glimmer of hope for the dance, but it does not look likely.  Good luck to all that play this evening! 

[Tigerfan]

As befitting a #6 seed, the Tigers face a huge challenge tonight.  The quickness of the Marlins has dominated H-SC this season.  I'm not sure the Tigers have anybody who can keep Steven Fields in front of him. 
Sorry I missed the Macon game, certainly a classic for Tiger fans, not so much for the Jackets. 

[WhoWouldaThought]

Roanoke falls to Guilford as the Quakers advance to the ODAC final tomorrow.  Guilford actually played a very sloppy game offensively with Ben Strong looking like the only one who knew how to put the ball in the hoop but as usual when their offense struggles their defense stepped up and locked Roanoke down in the halfcourt.  Very similar to Roanoke's game vs. Hope who has been a Top 5 team most of the year, RC stayed neck and neck with Guilford for 32-33 minutes but couldn't get it done in the clutch.  Roanoke finishes the season 18-9.  They lose 7 players to graduation and need a big time recruiting class to replace virtually their entire backcourt and Mr. Do It All Josh Laporte.  Not sure how a team with this much talent only won 3 ODAC Tournament games in their careers (all in the last 2 years) and no NCAA Tourney appearances.  Hopefully some changes will be made at the top and the program will restore a culture of winning and dominance in the ODAC that seems to have been lost in this decade.  Looking to next year, they return rising sophomore Melvin Felix to run the point and 3 rising seniors including Curtis Peery who will be a certain first team All-ODAC performer.  Other than that, hopefully they brought in some recruits because they need to replace 7 players this year and 3 next year and ultimately build a team around Melvin Felix just as RMC did around Justin Short.  Guilford was awful fom 3 tonight (2-17) so they need to improve on that if they want to be victorious in the final tomorrow night but with Ben Strong in the middle I like their chances.

[Billy Jack]

just wondering if anyone knows the names of the refs who officiated the games today?

[algernon]

Congratulations to Virginia Wesleyan for a well-fought and deserved win.  The Marlins were the National Runnerup last year and could go deep again this year.

A great final game from Troy Kaase and Drew Prehmus.  Kaase, Prehmus, and Tyler Murray are three very fine men who have played with all their heart over the last 4 years, getting the Tigers into the ODAC semifinals 4 years in a row and winning the ODAC Championship in 2007.  Great guys, great basketball careers, great students, and great things ahead for all three !!

[hasanova]

Two hard-fought games in Salem last night with similar final scores:  GC over RC, 67-55, and VWC over HSC, 68-55.  Should be an interesting final today at 3:30.

RC led a few times and it was tied often, but I just kept expecting GC to build a lead and pull away.  It took 32 minutes or so, but they did.  Guilford led 26-20, but RC closed with two three-pointers to send the game to halftime at 26 all.  In the second half, GC built a 6-point lead only to see RC close within one.  The Maroons are a good, scrappy team!  A huge Kimbrough three and a Henson basket pushed it to 50-44 and RC was never able to catch up again.  In the last few minutes, the Maroons were forced to foul and the Quakers capitalized at the FT line.  Several observations:  Strong was absolutely pummeled by Peery and Laporte inside.  Ben came away with 18 tough points and kept his cool - it was getting chippy.  Guilford stunk behind the arc (2 of 17) and was only fair (15 of 22) from the line.   They have to do better than that on Sunday!  GC did, however, dominate the boards, 51-31, and that was a key in the victory.

In game two, the Tigers had the Marlins on the ropes, 24-10, with 5 minutes left in the first half.  The Marlins then had a 22-15 run to close it to 39-32.  It looked as though HSC was going to maintain a 4-8 point lead in the 2nd half, but the Tigers went cold and the Marlins kicked it up a notch.  From a 44-36 Tiger lead, VWC closed on a 32-11 run to win 68-55.  The Marlins, excuse the pun, took the Tigers to school with their quickness. 

I saw sludge and allsky last night - great to see them - also met the very nice family of Guilford guard Rhett Bonner.  Thanks to the total strangers who gave me an extra ODAC pass when they saw me standing in line to buy a ticket - ten bucks is ten bucks!  lol   Some days things go south and some days you catch a break!

Go Quakers today, but good luck to all ODAC teams in the NCAAs!

[hasanova]

While cruising the websites of several ODAC schools, I came across a curious thing:

GC listed the final score in the Roanoke game as both 67-57 and 67-56.
Roanoke had it as 63-53.
VWC said it was 65-55.

I'm glad I was there in person, otherwise I might not know it was 67-57!

At least they all had Guilford as the winner, but I'm glad I wasn't betting on the game with a 10.5 point spread or a 120 point over and under! 

[hasanova]

Final in OT  GC 91, VWC 80

Whew!  VWC overcame a 50-32 2nd half deficit to tie it at 72 all (on a 4-point play, no less!), but Guilford dominated the OT to win their first ODAC tournament title, 91-80.  Strong 28, Henson 19 and Kimbrough 18 led the Quakers, while Balenga 30, Fantin 21 and Fields 18 were tops for the Marlins.  Strong (MOP), Henson, Kimbrough, Balenga and Fantin comprise the all-tournament team.

Guilford had the edge in rebounds, 37-25, and the Quakers were a stellar 24 of 27 from the line.  At 24-4, the Quakers have the best record since the 1974-75 team finished with an identical mark.  Guilford went 32-5 in 1969-70 and 29-5 in 1972-73, but this has also been a great season!  VWC is an excellent 22-6 and both the Quakers and the Marlins should be in the NCAA tournament next weekend.  I hope RMC makes it too!

Yippee!  Now I can celebrate! 

[matty]

congratulations to guilford for their ODAC title and automatic bid. It's definitely a testament to how far they've come since last year and what a difference a year makes. The hard work has paid off and you all deserve it and you showed you deserve to be ODAC champs all season long. I've always had a lot of respect for guilford and coach palombo. And its probably all the more sweeter that guilford finally beat vwc at ODACs. It had to hurt losing to vwc three years in a row (04, 05, 06). Anyway, enjoy it, celebrate and get ready to represent the ODAC. I think v'dub will get a bid, their national ranking all year will probably help that. so maybe we'll get to see y'all again.
On the game...I listened to the game. First year i hadn't been able to attend the ODAC tournament in about 6 years, the year before i got involved in basketball at vwc. After Guilford took control  early the game really took on a mundane feel and then in the second half, vwc showed signs of life and rallied from 18 down. The last 3 minutes of the game were exciting to listen to. It's interesting guilford dominated the overtime because i know vwc worked so hard to get the game tied and even had an opportunity with 3 secs left. I guess they just ran out of steam which is interesting b/c i think if a previous vwc team was out their with adair and fitch, vwc might have been able to pull it out. So, also an example of what a difference a year makes.
Anyway, congrats on a great odac season. and let march madness begin!! ODAC represent!!

[sludge]

<whew>, back from the exhausting ODAC tournament.  Great victory by Guilford, keyed by defense and rebounding.   Virginia Wesleyan displayed regrettably hot shooting by Ton-Ton Balenga.  There's no way it should have been that close at the end, but VWC managed to tie the game in regulation!  Good grief, what do you have to do to put away a game against VWC???  Guilford fans were concerned, you bet, but we did very well in many overtime games last year. (I think this was the first overtime of the year for Guilford).  The tactic of foul Strong in overtime didn't work, and the Quakers gave VWC a dose of their own stealing and blocking medicine, and owned the overtime.  A huge three from Kimbrough and fine shooting from Kimbrough and Henson brought it on home.  And wow, what fine team defense and rebounding.

Nobody shouted "o-ver-ra-ted" about Strong or anything else.  How about "au-to-ma-tic"!

Now, I'd be willing to bad mouth Voldemort Wesleyan if I thought they deserved it.  However, this VWC team, which can't be accustomed to losing, was gracious and honorable in defeat.  Perhaps it helps that they know their season isn't over.  I think they are a no-brainer for Pool C NCAA.  I wish they were in some other bracket, but unfortunately, they are in the South region, and we may meet again sooner rather than later.

I would think R-MC is on the deep bubble at this point.

I overheard Ben say, "we want two more nets". 

Magnificent effort by Guilford this weekend!  I wish you guys joy of your victory!

[Jacketlawyer]

The HSC-RMC lived up to what we had originally expected even with Sydney getting behind early.  The first half was all Macon.  The officials, I feel, let the players play more in the first half and, as I stated in an earlier post, that tends to favor Macon's in your face, physical (hands-on) defense.  This allowed Macon to build a 17-pt. halftime lead.  The officials (once again in my opinion) called a much tighter 2nd half and that allowed Sydney to claw back into it.  Macon played very hard in the second half and held Sydney back by a margin of 6 points for a while, but the Tigers finally overcame the deficit after Prehmus fouled out.

I have to comment on Justin Short.  He played a great game for Macon and almost single handedly carried them to a win.  In the first half with the shot clock winding down (and I think him not realizing it until almost the last second), he threw up a bomb from deep with a defender in his face and it was nothing but net.  At that point, I felt that it was not going to be HSC's night.  I think my sentiments were shared by most HSc's fans I saw in the hospitality room at half; however, I kept thinking about 2 years ago in the semis of the ODACs when HSC had a big halftime lead and then Macon stormed back to win it in the 2nd half.  I have seen too many big leads evaporate in this series and know to expect the unexpected.

Thanks for your post, Brian.  I was out of town for the tournament, and had to get a text from Hasa to find out what happened.  I was nervous about the match-up with the Tigers so soon after a regular season meeting.  With good reason as it turns out.  It must've been a good game for the Tigers.

Congratulations to the Quakes, however.  I hope they go deep in the NCAAs!!

[Brian Hamilton]

Conratulations to the GC Quakers on the ODAC championship.  Good luck in the NCAAs.

[Jacketlawyer]

That is not a time to which I want to see this board revert.  As some have said in the past, perhaps ignoring and not responding to comments such as these is the best course of action.

Also very sound advice, and an art that is rapidly becoming extinct.  As my grandmother once said, "some things should just be beneath your notice," and she was right.